Update

Relief. I am so glad that this semester is over. These past few months have definitely been a test of my intelligence, time management, and sanity. It’s a miracle that I came out alive but it’s also a miracle that I often found time to procrastinate.

So much has happened and yet so little of it feels noteworthy.
----I’m done at NIC
----I passed my ICLAs, which means I’m one step closer to teaching.
----I realized that I could potentially be teaching in a classroom before I turn 23. That is amazing yet ridiculously scary to me at the same time.
----I found a job that I truly love. I’m working at Atlas Elementary in an after-school program. It’s so entertaining and the kids are amazing.

Boston for Thanksgiving was amazing. I wish I could have had more time there. We did so much and yet nothing at the same time. It was nice to spend time with just Rachel and Peter without the hovering craziness of our mothers (which we couldn’t escape over Christmas break). We cheated and pre-ordered a dinner from Whole Foods. It was nice to not have to worry about food poisoning for our first Thanksgiving dinner on our own. Shopping on Newbury Street was amazing but what I really loved was seeing some of the rich history that Boston holds. The Nutcracker put on by the Boston Ballet was absolutely phenomenal. We walked around for an entire day and saw downtown Boston, Faneuil Hall, the Holocaust Memorial, and had dinner at a tiny Italian Restaurant on the North end. We then braved the crowd at Mike’s Pastries so I could get some delicious tiramisu. I’ll post some pictures from my trip at the end of this blog.
Some highlights: Cabo Wabo and revisiting Spring Break, The Nutcracker, Hunting Peter, Crab Cakes, Mike’s Pastries, Newbury Street, Disney Charades, and movie nights.

I am so excited to start 2009. Fresh and new. Fresh and new. That’s what I keep telling myself. I feel like my life and who I am and the direction I’m heading is so different and so much better than what I could have imagined a year ago. I’m still working on myself everyday and working on being a better person for myself. And knowing that I’m doing this for myself is empowering.
I promise that I’ll be updating more. Because this semester I’ll actually have time to breathe.

Boston:

Thanksgiving Dinner


Boston Ballet


Faneuil Hall


mmmm…the best Tiramisu I’ve ever had.


Downtown Boston


Spring Break revisited.


He Blends right in.

Hysterics.

I am probably clinically insane right now. This is by far the most stressful end to a semester I've ever experienced. I promise that after this dies down next week I will write a proper blog to update all of you on Boston/my life/everything that is going on in my brain. But for now I'll leave you with this:

"I feel like I could write a eulogy for a paper clip".

I just texted that to Kaleigh.

Anyone have a good number for a shrink?

This just heard....

"Yeah, well I've thought about moving to Canada ever since Osama Bin Laden was elected President."

Wow. I am kind of crying I'm laughing so hard.....Really?

Blogworthy

So I haven't written anything for a while, mostly because I've been busy and also because I've felt that there hasn't been anything that I've felt the need to write down. But this...this is amazing.

Blessed

Over the past few months I have been truly blessed with new people coming into my life. Linda and George are two of the nicest, caring, and kindest people I have met and lucky for me they entrust me with the care of their 21 month old son, Kyle. Being able to care and play with him has been a Godsend and I enjoy every minute I get to spend with this adorable little boy. So because I enjoy bragging I thought I'd show off Kyle and what a great kid he really is.

This is Kyle


Besides being the most adorable little boy in the world he is actively involved in many things

Such as:

Being a friend to animals (of the stuffed variety)




Pulling weeds that creep up on the Enos' beach



Reading chapter books



and last but not least, rocking the shades.



He truly is a wonderful little boy and I'm so excited because I get to watch him ALL weekend. I'm very excited.

Short Rant...

Someone told me today that they're not voting for Obama because "Obama hates America."

WHAT?

Seriously? If he hated America, why would he waste his time running for President of the United States?

I don't want an "Average Joe Six Pack" in the White House as VP.

Fear, Manifested?

I’m utterly and uselessly afraid.

Of being alone.

Even though I joke about it I don’t find it funny.

Ridiculous, I know. But that’s not it. I fear being alone, misused, misjudged, misguided, misunderstood and miserable.

Don’t get me wrong. I cherish my alone time. Time to lounge and curl up with a good book, or just sit and clear my head.

It’s more the fear of truly being alone, forgotten and deserted. Where the heck did this come from? It strikes me though that all these fears that come from within are affected by the people around me. Which is just crazy. I’m constantly and consistently surrounded by the most amazing and inspiring people. So where the heck did this come from?

It’s not you it’s me.

Confidence. That’s what I need to have. I feel it slowly trickling back to me. Day by day it’s getting stronger and these crazy thoughts are getting pushed back in my mind further and further. But I can’t help the nagging feeling that they’re still there.

Anyone want to help me pay for psychiatric help?

I miss it. I miss that little girl I once knew. She was confident and slightly cocky. She didn’t care what other people thought. She was just she. She was me.

Irrational. The only word I can think of to describe my current state of mind. Why can’t I just let things BE? Be happy. Know that things will change. Remember that life is amazing, beautiful. A gift. Live it to its fulfillment. LET GO. The best is yet to come.

Now.

I had all these thoughts built up in my head. Then I decided to brush my teeth and they all fell out. Come back. Please?

I’ve been straying lately. Making excuses. Saying I don’t have the time. Why not? Really? I just read an entire novel. More ridiculousness. Make time. Make room. There’s always time. He’s always there to listen.

Pray.

“Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love us in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.”
Those are some big shoes to fill. Love like that and learn to let go.

Live. Laugh. Love.

Erika